Marlite cited for 12 safety violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Marlite Inc. with 12 safety violations at its manufacturing plant at 202 Harger St.

Times Reporter

Writer

Posted Jul. 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 14, 2012 at 2:03 PM

Posted Jul. 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 14, 2012 at 2:03 PM

DOVER

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Marlite Inc. with 12 safety violations at its manufacturing plant at 202 Harger St.

OSHA inspected the facility in February under the agency’s National Emphasis Program on Amputations, notifying the company Thursday that it has proposed penalties totaling $56,000 for:

• One repeat violation for failing to properly guard machinery at the Dover plant, which manufactures commercial and architectural panels in wall systems and architectural doors. This violation also was found during a 2008 inspection.

John Popa, president and chief executive officer of Marlite, said Friday that the company received notification of the citations Thursday and is in the process of reviewing the findings.

However, “all of the items are corrected,” Popa said. “We had them corrected in a matter of a couple of days” following the February inspection.

“We are going to cooperate with OSHA in every and any way we can,” Popa said.

Popa explained that penalties are subject to negotiation, and that the company plans to meet with OSHA at a hearing to present Marlite’s response.

Popa will request that the proposed $56,000 fine be reduced.

“Most injuries that occur in the workplace are preventable. Employers that are cited for repeat violations show a lack of commitment to employee safety and health,” said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA’s area director in Columbus. “It is imperative that employers protect their workers.”

“We believe we are a safety-conscious employer,” Popa said.

Marlite has standing safety committee made up of representatives from both management and union workers. Popa said committee members routinely walk through the plant and address safety issues at every meeting. Its most recent one was Thursday.

Marlite employs 200 full-time workers at its 400,000 square-foot plant in Dover, and is in the process of constructing a new building that will add 35,000 square feet on Tuscarawas Avenue. Popa said that manufacturing expansion will result in the hiring of more employees locally.